When Calm Turns to Whiplash: Understanding Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
What Xanax Does to the Brain—and Why Withdrawal Happens Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, is a short-acting benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders. It works by enhancing the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. By amplifying GABA’s calming influence, Xanax reduces hyperactivity in neural circuits tied to fear, vigilance,